A question about Civil Disobedience

[ArgoSG]

Why wouldn't activists simply declare a day where they go out and disobey the law openly? Many speak as if they are oppressed by the criminalization of cannabis, however the obvious choice to me seems to be the tactics that activists like Martin Luther King Jr. learned from Ghandi. Why don't people who feel the criminalization of cannabis is oppression of their liberty simply gather and disobey this in a civil manner?

ArgoSG Reviewed by ArgoSG on 04-16-2009. A question about Civil Disobedience Why wouldn't activists simply declare a day where they go out and disobey the law openly? Many speak as if they are oppressed by the criminalization of cannabis, however the obvious choice to me seems to be the tactics that activists like Martin Luther King Jr. learned from Ghandi. Why don't people who feel the criminalization of cannabis is oppression of their liberty simply gather and disobey this in a civil manner? Rating: 5

[Italiano715]

Why wouldn't activists simply declare a day where they go out and disobey the law openly? Many speak as if they are oppressed by the criminalization of cannabis, however the obvious choice to me seems to be the tactics that activists like Martin Luther King Jr. learned from Ghandi. Why don't people who feel the criminalization of cannabis is oppression of their liberty simply gather and disobey this in a civil manner?

They actually have a cannabis day in Canada (Vancouver, BC) where they openly are out and celebrate cannabis and get blazed all day....It was actually on a documentary I seen. I want to say it was Marijuana Nation, but I don't really remember b/c I'm really :S5: Part 5 is the one with a little bit of the cannabis day. Of course this is only if you haven't seen the documentary.

Marijuana Nation

YouTube - Marijuana Nation {part 1}

YouTube - Marijuana Nation {part 2}

YouTube - Marijuana Nation {part 3}

YouTube - Marijuana Nation {part 4}

YouTube - Marijuana Nation {part 5}

[TyPR124]

Most likely, most are simply afraid.

I've been thinking recently about the alcohol prohibition... its kinda funny actually. Alcohol makes people dumb and violent, and the alcohol prohibition was ended BECAUSE of dumb violence (well, one of the major factors anyways, I'm sure there were others.) I just wonder if the government realized that the reason they ended it was because of the same reason they started it (because alcohol makes people violent.)

So, on the other hand, BECAUSE all us pot smokers are laid-back and generally don't give a fck when we're :stoned:, we don't do anything violent and the government figures that it must be working.

Ironic, unfortunately...

Alcohol, legal because people kill for it.
Weed, illegal because people don't.
(Now if I could only shorten into a slogan form...)

Hmm... s'pose I got a bit off topic... but I guess mainly just cause marijuana makes you want to NOT resist, hence our not resisting

[billbong]

Why wouldn't activists simply declare a day where they go out and disobey the law openly? Many speak as if they are oppressed by the criminalization of cannabis, however the obvious choice to me seems to be the tactics that activists like Martin Luther King Jr. learned from Ghandi. Why don't people who feel the criminalization of cannabis is oppression of their liberty simply gather and disobey this in a civil manner?

It would be ideal if it was a organised event but i've never heard of it in England i do smoke publicly, through a town centre and i'm willing to be arrested, however i wouldn't do it when carrying a amount.

Unfortunatly in England it seems like things are getting worse, as they just read "causes psychosis, much stronger" ect and the only politicians who have tried canabis never got high, it was only rubbed on them by a passing cyclist.

Turning into a rant, but basically i'm all for a massive civil session/protest and would travel as it's important to me.

[fluid69]

i agree with typr124, everybody's a closet smoker.

[stuweed224]

When losing ones children, home, and the risk of being sodomized read: raped are what the possibilities of arrest hold it is not paranoia it is reality.
While the draconian days of 20 years for a joint may be gone, also losing professional licenses, the right to carry arms (defend ones self against those who care not about laws or decorum) weigh heavy on the hearts of those who partake.

The expose of Georgia narcotics officers planting drugs on a 92 year old grandmother prior to murdering her, helps the cause.The failing economy,and proof that Gold medalists can toke and still achieve have come to the surface but still,getting murdered on a farm in Michigan..anyone remember that? Perhaps that's why.
They get away with it.

[zerodownhm]

If you want to get your point across and actually get a response, then you need to get a lot of attention, all you have to do is a monthly statement. How do you do this? Simple, first gather a few friends so you don't just look like a crazy person with a sign shouting, pick a day, lets say the first friday(has to be a workday) of every month and then find out its peak traffic hour. Now all you have to do is get on the highway at peak hour, after that you and every one of your friends(each in an individual car) just have to stop on the highway get out of the car with your signs and lock the keys in (this is important, its what prevents the police from making you move out of the way quick).

Traffic is the way to get your message to the people, thats why grafitti is illegal in most places, cause its the way for the people to communicate massively between them. Why do you think there is so much advertisement? People spend a lot of time in cars. If you stop and start waving your signs about decriminalization then you get your message clear to the people, but doing rallies and stuff like that you only get people who are already with you and a few interested people. This way of doing it, you get your message to people who don't know anything about the subject. Plus, you are creating a jam, monthly, people hate jams so the people will get interested in getting you out of they way so they can get home, and they will get informed. Its how it worked for MLK, he just didn't do it in a highway, he went to places and stood in front of people and talked straight to them.

Im stoned, but my point is, you have to do something, by talking activism in forums you don't get too far, you have to go to the masses, and the masses are in traffic, on the way to their homes to get the daily news all chewed up and ready to be believed, but you have the chance to delay them and get the real news from real people...

got caught up in it again, ok i'll stop rambling and go get some munchies...

[JD1stTimer]

LOL, that sounds quite unpleasant. Don't most towns have a park or other public space next to a busy thoroughfare? You could park, go over there, and the police couldn't force you back into your car, but they could take you to jail. You don't need to lock your keys in, though, and blocking traffic is against the law and for good reason. It's a good way to cause an auto accident.

[Coelho]

I dont think blocking traffic is a good idea at all... people usually HATE traffic jams, and consequently whoever causes it... it would only turn people against you and your (or rather ours) cause.

[thedeadone]

I think using Mr. King is a bad example------------- If you have nothing , you have nothing to loose.King and his (clan) had nothing, and everything to gain by marching------ heck man, blacks back then where treated as less than human every day. I am glad that it worked out for them(Though King did not live to see it) Now most users of Marijuana are your average every day citizens- House, Job, 2.3 kids, morgage- health insurance premiums, yada yada yada. I would have a lot to loose if I was taken in by Sammy Law.
So I choose to protest to my people in congress(Which as of now is still legal to do) And keep the faith that one day things will change.